“The idea of buying candy in Orient is so in peoples’ souls,” says Lucy Barnes, a former New York City boutique owner turned North Fork builder who is working to reopen a shop at the former Candyman in Orient. “We want to keep the Candyman vibe going here — it’s been going for so long.”
Ms. Barnes, who lives in Orient, is working with the new owner of the Candyman property, Don Jayamaha of Mattituck, to open a new shop, which will be called North Star Orient, in September. They have not yet decided on an opening date.
The two have been working to renovate the Candyman building — where Debbie and Jim Michta had sold a wide variety of homemade candy for nearly 40 years. They’ve turned the space in the building that had been used for candy manufacturing (including a room dedicated to Easter bunnies) into retail space, and are hoping to partner with local chocolatiers to provide chocolate.
“We plan to work with the same suppliers Debbie and Jim worked with, and have a pick and mix — where you can pick out a variety of candy, like you used to be able to do at Sweet Indulgences in Greenport,” said Ms. Barnes. “We’ve painted it all inside, to make it look like a vintage candy store, and we moved a beautiful historical candy-making table into the display area.”
The Michtas retained The Candyman name when they sold the property, said Ms. Barnes, and Mr. Jayamaha says he sees the project as a chance to fill in the gaps in available services in Orient.
Mr. Jayamaha, who drives a Cybertruck, plans to install four Tesla superchargers on a lot adjacent to the Candyman building, which also has a small former real estate office on it that he is renovating.
They are also in talks with local bicycle mechanics to offer bicycle repairs in another small building on the property.
“Every day 20 to 30 cars stop here looking to get their candy,” said Mr. Jayamaha. “We’ve been talking to them, showing them the place and they say they will come back as soon as we’re open. One woman cried — she’d been coming here for 40 years and was so happy she was going to have her candy again.”
Ms. Barnes said, while she was working on the renovations one day, she saw a tanker truck do a u-turn in the middle of the Main Road.
“He got out and said ‘do you have any caramel turtles?” she said.
Ms. Barnes is no stranger to retail. She ran a shop selling women’s wear and antiques for about 10 years in New York City’s Meatpacking District. She said she plans to mix in some antiques and vintage books, along with staples such as milk and yellow Southold Town garbage bags, for Orient residents who don’t want to make the trip to Greenport for provisions.
“We’re going to be open seven days a week, and definitely ’till six o’clock every day,” she said. “People have been making really lovely suggestions. We’ve been hearing people saying their internet is constantly going out, and they want a place where they can use the internet. Some suggested a small local gallery (in the building on the second lot). We’re keeping an open mind. We’re hoping we’ll complement the other businesses here.”
“It’s a great spot, and we’re hoping it will function as a kind of visitor center for the North Fork,” she added. “Cyclists are always out here for a ride, and we want to have water, air and puncture kits available for them.”
“That’s really needed here in Orient. We want to be a stop on New York’s Empire Trail of bike paths,” said Mr. Jayamaha, who also convinced the Hampton Jitney to make the property an official stop on its route.
Mr. Jayamaha’s family is also a part of the business — his daughter-in-law lives just up the street, and she will be working with Ms. Barnes to run the shop. They’re also looking to hire more employees, preferably people who live in Orient.
“We want to do everything to help our community here,” he said. “We’re making a huge investment in the infrastructure in Orient. This will be a game-changer.”
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